#1645293 - 04/03/05 09:13 PM
Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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Rick Hoffman
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Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 1095
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Hey guys.
I get a phone call from my guitar player/sound engineer/band manager one afternoon telling me about a possible gig opening for a sat night gig Apr 30th. 3 bands, one headliner, 2nd band backed out. The bar needed a #2 band.
Turns out our guitar player got this lead from the 1st band going on that night. We know the number 1 and 2 bands goin on before the headliner. My guitar player wanted me to call the place since I know the owner and see if we could get on the bill.
Now I mentioned I know the owner of the bar. He also does the bookings. We aren't like best of friends, but we have a good understanding because we are both former Marines and we used to work together a few years back, thats how we met. I just met up with him again a few weeks ago at his bar when I was seeing a freinds band, and we got to catching up and it was agreed he was booking my band at some point sometime soon.
So I called him up and asked about that opening. He asked us if we could play long sets and what not and I told him no problem, we have lots of material, etc etc. I explained to him, at my guitar players request, that we must have the number 2 slot because we have a good draw and we basically deserve that slot. The 1st band, undoubtedly, would try to bump us to first which would be no good, because I said we need to go on later to give people time to get to our shows.
Not to sound like I'm on an ego trip here but my band has been around since 1985 and they've earned their stripes, they are all older than me and what not and they won't take a gig unless its worth it. I'm sure you guys understand where I'm coming from, though some of you may not.
OK so this is what happens next-I get off the phone with my friend and later that day I get a phone call from my guitar player. He said that the bar owner called him up and gave us the gig, but he wanted to make sure it was MY band, he wasn't sure who my guitar player was cuz he called him too. So I called him up and said yea this is my band, sorry to not tell you the NAME of my band before haha...
SO THEN my guitar player calls me back a few days later and says this is the plan. Instead of 3 bands playing with one headliner, there are now 2 bands co-headlining (80 minute sets), with the first band bumped off the bill. OUCH man I had no idea that would happen.
Next day I'm getting emails from the 1st band, and this and that. So we tell the first band we're sorry we didn't know they would want to do that, so we offer up half our time and door to them. They said thanks but no thanks.
So I'm not sure what happened there, and I'm not really upset about it. We have an 80 minute set coming up, and I have a lot of preparing to do.
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#1645294 - 04/04/05 12:03 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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Prague
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Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 4635
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It's too bad this mulitple band thing has come to pass. It was rare that I ever played with multiple bands. To even get booked you had to do a full night. Nowadays, it seems that few bands can play a 4 hour gig, or ever get the opportunity.
I mean, 3 bands moving equipment in and out just for one show in a bar? Let's just hope there aren't any environmentalists aware of this. It's a HUGE waste of energy, not to mention personal effort.
I guess this bumping thing just goes with the territory. I wouldn't feel too bad about it. It will probably happen to everyone, sooner or later.
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#1645295 - 04/06/05 08:25 AM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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EscapeRocks
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Registered: 08/12/03
Posts: 334
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The multiple band thing can work if setup properly.
We do a lot of that here. A lot (most) of our shows are with other "tribute" bands. We each do a two hour set, and the crowd and nightclub owners love it.
We often play with an AC/DC band. The places we play have stages deep enough that there is minimal tear down/set up between acts. We also rotate venues on a 6 week basis, so we don't burn out at any one place.
Since we began doing this a couple years ago, our bookings increased ten-fold.
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#1645296 - 04/06/05 09:09 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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Rick Hoffman
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Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 1095
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Right, I told this story to my drummer/neighbor and he straight up told me I was wrong for calling my friend to ask about the gig in the first place, he rambled on about musician's brotherhood and all that. Meanwhile, he would probably be the first to throw me under the bus.
I'm NOT losing sleep over this, trust me. When I found out the other band was bumped and we were doing a longer set I was relieved. I mean hell co-headline? You mean 2 bands are playing? Ok cool. This might turn into 2 hour sets.
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#1645297 - 04/09/05 07:43 AM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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Rick Hoffman
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Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 1095
Loc: Long Island, NY
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OOPS nevermind the band that was booted must have done some serious bitching because now the guy booking the show asked us if they could go back on the bill.
We said, SURRRRRE.
I'm a little upset because I just spent my week preparing for an 80 minute set, and we're playing a shorter set. Which isn't bad, but I suppose I'd better just get used to this sort of thing.
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#1645298 - 04/09/05 04:14 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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EscapeRocks
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Registered: 08/12/03
Posts: 334
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Those kind of "politics" suck to deal with.
What worked for us was when we started this project a little over 3 years ago, we were always the "nice guys."
Sure, that meant sometimes getting taken advantage of with the "nice guys finish last" thing. However, it works. By us always being accomodating to other acts and the various club owners and venue managers, we are now viewed as the band all the places want to book, since they know they won't get a hassle with us.
So while other bands played the politics thing, at least in our case, we're getting the last laugh, as now they're in the audience, and we get the gigs.
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#1645299 - 04/10/05 09:16 AM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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Rick Hoffman
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Registered: 03/25/04
Posts: 1095
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Thats the philosophy behind our band leader's thinking here, and I agree to a certain extent. We pick which gigs we want to take and try to be as nice and professional as possible to everyone.
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#1645300 - 04/10/05 12:03 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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EscapeRocks
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Registered: 08/12/03
Posts: 334
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Oh yeah, it's not to say we sometimes have to act like "not nice guys" but usually what I posted above works.
The largest obstacle to overcome are bands who have preceeded us at various venues who were jerks to deal with. One of the biggest complaints with bands around here is that they never seem to show up on time, isists on doing sound check AFTER the clubs open, and generally acting like THEY own the venue. That just gives ALL bands a bad stereotype, and makes club owners no want to deal with live music. That's another huge factor in our taking the high-road approach to all of this. It's taken a while, but as I said in my post above, they're calling us now to ask us to play all the "A" rooms, and such.
David
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#1645301 - 05/05/05 12:00 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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strat0124
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/03/01
Posts: 5056
Loc: ,VA,UNITED STATES
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Man I'll open anytime....nice to get paid, get loaded up before 12. And hang if you want. Unless its just a kickass show waiting to play just sucks to me.
_________________________
Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in
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#1645302 - 05/05/05 04:14 PM
Re: Time-slots and booking bands-POLITICS
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freelance
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Registered: 03/18/02
Posts: 349
Loc: Oh, I forgot?
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I normally don't like multi band gigs (unless it's on summer festival stages - and even then it's a pain). It's been years since I've been in a band that had to do any slot other than the opener for a national act.
I don't think you were wrong to make a call to get a gig - and if you used your "friendship" with the club owner - great! Business is all about contacts, connections and networks.
It was not your intent to bump a band off the show, simply to get the best slot (one you felt you deserved).
Since the other band is back on the slot, no harm done. If you explained to the other band that you did not try to hurt them and the club's decision to bump them was beyond your control, you can do no more.
Enjoy the gig!
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